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Cleveland Indians Welcome the Toronto Blue Jays for Pivotal Series

By Henry Palattella

Aug 10, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) singles in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 10, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson (20) singles in the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto’s Shorthanded Offense

Aug 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) hits a sacrifice fly ball scoring a run during the eighth inning in a game against the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 14, 2016; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (10) hits a sacrifice fly ball scoring a run during the eighth inning in a game against the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre. The Toronto Blue Jays won 9-2. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-USA TODAY Sports /

Toronto’s bread and butter is their offense, as their lineup is filled with threats top to bottom. Designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion (.269, 34 HR, 100 RBI) is the first player in the majors with 100 RBIs this season, and has really picked up the slack for the injured Jose Bautista (.22, 15 HR, 48 in 88 games.)

2015 AL MVP Josh Donaldson (.289, 28 HR, 80 RBI) is having another strong year both at the plate and in the field, but he’s been in a slump lately, batting .246 with five home runs and 17 RBIs in his last 114 at-bats. Second-year player Devon Travis (.297, 10 HR, 35 RBI) has played well since coming off the disabled list mid-May, and is looking more and more like the second baseman of the future for the Blue Jays.

If there’s one knock on the the Jays offense, it is their outfield. Injuries have decimated this once-strong group, with the aforementioned absence of Bautista and Kevin Pillar (.261, 7 HR, 45 RBI) looming large.

And the players the team does have out there now are not doing so hot. Michael Saunders appears to be caught in a never-ending slump (.298, 16 HR, 42 RBIs in the first half; .152, 1 HR, 4 RBIs in the second half), trade deadline acquisition Melvin Upton Jr. has underwhelmed thus far (.213, 1 Hr, 5 RBIs in 20 games), and Darrell Ceciliani does not appear to be ready for the big league game (.115, 1 RBI in 26 at-bats).

Next: How the Indians Stack Up

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